JPH03161767A - Image forming device with power saving mode function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the impartation of a time loss to a user by providing a power down control means which executes start and/or cancellation of power down cooperatively with the opening and closing of an original cover. CONSTITUTION:This device has the power down control means 1 which executes the start and/or cancellation of the power down cooperatively with the opening and closing 2 of the original cover. The degradation in operability by operating the starting/canceling key to be exclusively used for power saving and the degradation in power saving efficiency by the neglect in the operation of the key are, therefore, prevented. The drawbacks which are liable to arise in the case of the automatic execution of the start and/or cancellation of the power saving (for example, the power down is started before ending the actual copying by the user or the warming up of power consuming members delays) are eliminated. Thus, the demand for reducing the electric power consumption and the demand for improving the operability of the device are compatibly obtd.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a power-saving mode function for an image-forming device that satisfies the need for saving power consumption in the image-forming device and improving the operability of the device. The present invention relates to an image-type precept device.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines are known to have a power saving mode function for saving power consumption and shortening warm-up time. In power saving mode, power down can be started by starting a timer after copying is complete, and starting when the timer elapses, or when a dedicated power down key is operated by the user. things are known. On the other hand, power-down can be canceled when any key on the operation panel already installed in the copier or a dedicated cancellation key (sometimes the power-down key itself) is operated, or when a detection device is activated. A device that releases when the user's copying work is detected (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-22
(see Publication No. 359), etc. are known.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if the user manually operates some operation keys to start and/or cancel power down, it is not only cumbersome and inconvenient to use, but also
There is a drawback that efficient power down cannot be achieved if the operator forgets to operate it. Furthermore, in the case where the device itself determines the end of copying and powers down, for example, if the moment when the copy paper is ejected onto the ejection tray is considered to be the end of copying (hereinafter referred to as "deemed end"), There is a possibility that power down will start even though copying has not actually finished. In other words, the user can say that copying has actually finished when the original is removed from the platen, and if the above-mentioned deeming termination is performed, the copying process is completed after the above-mentioned copy paper is printed, and then the next original is started. If there is a delay in the operation from setting the printer to the stand and pressing the copy button, there is a risk that the power-down timer will elapse and the printer will enter power-down mode during the next copy.

In particular, when a large number of copies are to be made, the user may be away from the copying machine, and in such a case, the setting of the next original will often be delayed, so the above-mentioned risk becomes even higher.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image forming device with a power saving mode function according to the present invention has an image forming device equipped with a power saving mode function that saves power consumption of power consuming components. The forming apparatus is characterized in that it includes a power-down control means that starts and/or cancels power-down in conjunction with opening and closing of the document cover.

(Function) According to the above configuration, power down can be started based on the point in time when the copy actually ends for the user (for example, by starting a power down timer from this point); Cancellation can be triggered by the actual start of copying for the user.This is based on the fact that the user opens and closes the document cover to remove the document when the actual copying ends for the user. Furthermore, when the user starts actual copying, the user opens and closes the document cover for storing the document.

Furthermore, since the start of power down is triggered when a certain period of time has elapsed from the end of the actual copying for the user, the power down is triggered when the user is in the middle of copying (especially in the middle of copying a lot). The disadvantages of conventional control, such as power down being initiated, can be overcome.

On the other hand, the power-down is canceled when the user actually starts copying, and the power-consuming components are warmed up faster, so that the user does not lose time.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the image type warning device with a power saving mode function according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
A document cover opening/closing detection means 2, a heater control section 3, a document forgetting warning means 4, and an operation/display section 5 are connected.

The document cover opening/closing detection means 2 detects the opening and closing of a document cover provided in an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, and notifies the power down control means 1. - It consists of a micro switch etc. that turns it off.

The heater control unit 3 is a target of power down, and is configured to control the temperature of the heater in response to a power down start/cancellation command from the power down control 1,000 steps I. The heater heats the heat roller for fixing the toner. Note that the power-down target is not limited to the heater control section 3 described above.

The document forgetting warning means 4 is configured to drive a buzzer 6 in response to a command from the power down control 1,000 stages 1 in order to notify the user when a document is forgotten on the document table.

The operation/display section 5 is arranged on the outer surface of the copying machine.
It is equipped with function keys for setting the number of sheets, magnification setting, etc., and the ready pilot lamp flashes to notify the power down control 1,000 steps which function key has been operated, and to notify the user of the power down by the power down control means 1. It is something that can be controlled.

The power-down control means 1 starts and/or cancels power-down in conjunction with the opening and closing of the document cover, and is, for example, a CPU that controls the entire copying machine. It is designed to perform processing like this.

FIG. 2 shows a subroutine for starting power down in the power down control means 1. First, when the copying machine is copying (paper feeding → exposure → development...during operations up to paper ejection), If copying is in progress, flag F2 is set and preparations are made to start the power down timer (S2 and S3). Next, it is determined whether or not the document cover is open (34), and if it is open, the flag Fl is set and the process returns (S
5) If it is in the closed state, return as is. Such processing continues until the copying is completed.

When it is determined in step 1 that copying has been completed in the copying machine, it is determined whether or not the flag F1 is set (36), and it is determined whether the flag F1 is set (that is, the document cover was opened during copying. In other words, the copying (meaning that the original has been removed), this is determined to be the end of copying for the user, and flags F1 and F2 are reset (S7 and S8), the power down timer is started, and the process goes to step 9. Transition. Note that this assumes that the original is removed immediately after the exposure operation in the copying machine is completed, and the copying by the user is completed.

In addition, if it is determined in step 6 that the flag Fl is not set, it is determined whether or not the flag F2 is set (S14), and if it is set (copying is in progress), the original Determine whether the cover has been opened (315), and if the document cover has been opened (
That is, if the original is removed and the user finishes copying), the flag F2 is reset (S
16) Start the power down timer and proceed to step 9. Note that this means that after the paper ejection operation in the copying machine is finished (that is, after the copying process in the copying machine is finished),
This assumes that the user finishes copying after the original is removed. If it is determined in step 15 that the document cover is not opened, the document is forgotten and the document forgetting warning means 4 is activated, an alarm is sounded by the buzzer 6, and preparations are made to start the power down timer (S17 and Sl8). , return.

On the other hand, if the flag F2 is not set in step 14, it is assumed that the user has finished copying, and the process moves to step 9.

In step 9, it is determined whether the power down timer has ended or not, and if it has not ended, returns.
If it has ended, set flag 3, clear the power down timer, output a power down start command to the heater control section 3, and blink the ready pie mouth sort lamp in the operation/display section 5. (S10
-Sll・S12・S13).

FIG. 3 shows a subroutine for canceling power down in the power down control means 1. First, it is determined whether or not the flag F3 is set. If so, check whether the document cover is open or not (328), and if it is open, set flag F4 (S29), and if it is closed, reset flag F4 (S30) and return. . This process is repeated until the copying machine is powered down.

Flag F3 is set in step 20 (
In other words, if it is determined that the system is in a power down state, it is determined whether the flag F4 is set (S21).
, is set (that is, the document cover was open before entering the power down mode), it is determined whether the document cover is open (S22), and the document cover is closed (when the user opens the document). If the key on the operation/display unit 5 is operated (327) even in the open state, it is determined that the user has started copying, and the flag F3 is
, outputs a power-down release command to the heater control unit 3, and stops blinking the ready pilot lamp for power-down display (S23 and S24).
・S25).

On the other hand, if the flag F4 is not set in step 21 (that is, the document cover was in the closed state before entering the power down mode), it is determined whether the document cover is in the open state (S26), If the key on the operation/display unit 5 is operated in the open state (the state in which the user is about to set the document) or in the closed state (S27), it is determined that the user has started copying, and the process proceeds to step 23.
24 and 25, if the key on the operation/display section 5 is not operated in step 27, the power down state will be maintained until this key is pressed.

Note that if the copy operation does not start even after the power down state is canceled, power down control may be performed by starting a timer or the like from the time the power down state is canceled.

According to the above structure, power down can be started based on the actual copy end point for the user, while power down can be canceled based on the point in time when the user actually starts copying. It can be carried out.

This means that at the end of the actual copy for the user,
This is based on the fact that the document cover is opened and closed to remove the document, and the document cover is opened and closed in order to set the document when the user starts actual copying.

Furthermore, power down starts when a certain amount of time has elapsed according to the power down timer from the end of the actual copy for the user. This solves the drawbacks of conventional control, such as power down starting during the process. On the other hand, the power down is canceled immediately upon the actual start of copying for the user, and warming amplifiers such as heaters are turned on earlier, thereby avoiding time loss for the user.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the image forming apparatus with a power saving mode function according to the present invention is equipped with a power down control means that starts and/or cancels one power down in conjunction with opening and closing of the document cover.

This prevents a decrease in operability due to operating the start/cancel key dedicated to power save and a decrease in power saving efficiency due to forgetting to operate the key, and also prevents the user from powering down even though the actual copying has not finished. This has the effect of eliminating disadvantages that tend to occur when automatically starting and/or canceling power save, such as delay in starting and warming up of power consuming components.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the power-down control means and its connection relationship with peripheral devices. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for starting power down. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for canceling power down. 1 is a power down control means, 2 is a document cover opening/closing detection means, 3 is a heater control section, 4 is a document forgetting warning means, and 5 is an operation/display section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus equipped with a power-saving mode function that saves power consumption of power-consuming components, including a power-down control means that starts and/or cancels power-down in conjunction with opening and closing of a document cover. An image forming apparatus with a power saving mode function.